Britos late show denies Liverpool winning start

Watford, United Kingdom | AFP | Miguel Britos added to Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp’s frustrations with an added-time equaliser that ensured Watford salvaged a point following a 3-3 draw at Vicarage Road on Saturday.

Klopp had spent the previous 24 hours handling the fall-out from Philippe Countinho’s transfer request after the club rejected Barcelona’s £90 million ($117.1 million, 99 million euros) bid for the Brazil playmaker.

Liverpool remain adamant Coutinho will not leave and it looked like Klopp might find relief from the saga when debutant Mohamed Salah gave the visitors the lead after they had twice come from behind.

Sadio Mane’s 29th-minute effort had cancelled out Stefano Okaka’s eighth-minute header, only for Abdoulaye Doucoure to immediately restore the home side’s lead.

Liverpool, who were without Coutinho, were back level in the 55th minute through Roberto Firmino’s penalty.

But with Salah’s 57th-minute goal looking as though it would be decisive, Britos bundled the ball home deep in stoppage time after Simon Mignolet had pushed Richarlison’s shot against the bar.

For all the close-season transfer dealings, both starting line-ups carried a familiar look, with Nathaniel Chalobah the home side’s only new face and Salah the lone Liverpool debutant.

For Klopp’s side, it appeared to be a case of same old faces, same old problems, as they allowed Watford to twice take the initiative during the first half on the back of defensive errors.

The opening goal was certainly one to frustrate Klopp as Okaka took full advantage of Liverpool’s lack of organisation as they failed to defend Jose Holebas’s corner.

Roberto Pereyra had broken threateningly after being sent clear by Okaka and was unfortunate to see his shot deflected wide off Dejan Lovren following a twisting run that had opened up the visitors’ defence.

Holebas swung in the resulting corner towards the near post, where it was headed home by Okaka, who had been allowed to advance unchecked, with Roberto Firmino in particular guilty of failing to react.

It was the perfect start for Watford manager Marco Silva, but for Klopp it was an early reminder of the problems that need to be eradicated if Liverpool are to prove genuine title contenders.

The other side of Liverpool was demonstrated 21 minutes later when Mane levelled in spectacular fashion.